TURA, Nov 10: Scores of indigenous games, cultural events and exhibition of handloom and handicrafts marked the inauguration of the 46th Edition of 100 Drums Wangala Festival 2022 at Wangala A’dam in Chibragre near Tura on Thursday.
The Annual 100 Hundred Drums Wangala Festival began with the Indigenous Games and Handloom and Handicrafts Exhibition on Thursday at Wangala A’dam in Chibragre near Tura, where local artisans and entrepreneurs from the region will be showcasing their products.
Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Albinush R Marak inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of the members of the Council, Hundred Drums Wangala Festival Committee, Nokma Council, among others.
Expressing his gratitude to the members of the organising committee, Marak said that albeit organising the festival for the 46th time was a herculean task, the same was done successfully with sheer dedication.
He also accentuated the need to preserve the post-harvest thanksgiving ceremony, which was being practiced since time immemorial.
The GHADC CEM also exhorted the members of the Garo community to stick to their roots and preserve their culture.
Chairman of the organising committee Ronald Rikman Sangma, on the other hand, maintained that since the celebration at the site is at its nascent stage, a lot more needs to be done to further improve it.
It may be mentioned that the 100 Drums Wangala Festival is being organised at the permanent site for the second time this year.
Expressing gratitude to the central and state governments for providing monetary assistance to hold the festival, Sangma said, “It is a matter of great pride for every Garo since the festival can be celebrated with a view to preserve and showcase their rich culture and traditions.”
It may be mentioned that Wangala is the most significant post-harvest festival of the Garos generally held in the second week of November every year. It is a thanksgiving ceremony to Misi Saljong, also known as Pattigipa Ra∙rongipa (The Great Giver), for blessing the people with the rich harvest of the season.
The 100 Drums Wangala Festival, which started in 1976 at Asanang, the headquarters of Rongram Development Block near Tura, has grown over the years.
The first day of the festival here featured indigenous games and sports like Wa∙pong sika, Jakpong Pe∙a, An∙ding O’ka, Rongma Chilsusa∙a for women, Rongma Desusa∙a for men, et al.
Performance of Wangala dance by students of Tura Government College, and patriotic songs and Wangala dance by students of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Tura, added further colour to the inaugural programme.
A tug-of-war competition was also organised as part of the festival, which was won by a team of five-time defending champions from Rongkhon. A team from Gondenggre, on the other hand, secured the runner-up.
The winners were later felicitated with a trophy, certificates and cash prizes.
The first day of the event was also attended by members of the Nagaland Garo Tribal Council along with the president of Garo Students’ Union, Nagaland zone.